Hand scraper



Nov. 15, 1966 E. L. HOPKINS 3,284,898

HAND SCRAPER Filed May 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l I NVENTOR.

EVAN L. HOPKINS BY M, flaw My; Wan

A TTURNE X5 Nov. 15, 1966 E. L. HOPKINS 3,284,898

HAND SCRAPER Filed May 21, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 24 FIGS INVENTOR.

EVAN L. HOPKINS BY am W Mu M;

United States Patent 3,284,898 HAND SCRAPER Evan L. Hopkins, 428 Peyton, Emporia, Kans. Filed May 21, 1964, Ser. No. 369,105 6 Claims. (Cl. 30172) This invention relates to a hand tool, more particularly to a hand tool of the type used to scrape, shape, or file various materials such as plastic, wood, lead and the like.

The hand tool of this invention has an elongated, U- shaped frame member normally positioned so that the flanges or sides depend downwardly from the web to which is attache-d a forward hand grip and a rear hand grip. A series of slots extend from the lower edges of the sides upwardly toward the web. These slots are disposed at a slight angle directed toward the front of the tool. The several slots in one side are parallel one to another, and the slots in both sides of the frame member are aligned transversely of the frame member in pairs. Each pair of slots is adapted to receive a blade.

When the tool is equipped with a full complement of blades, the lower surface of the several blades together provide a series of parallel edges extending transversely of the frame member; and when the tool is pushed across a surface, the series of edges apply what might be described as a combined scraping and filing action.

Each blade is made of a relatively thick, heat-treated steel material, although the particular blade material may be selected specially for different applications. Two of the opposite edges of each blade are precision ground to provide flat surfaces. Because of the thickness of the blade material and the precision grinding of the opposed edges, each blade has four separate working edges. Only one of these working edges on a single blade is exposed to the surface to be worked. In one embodiment, all four of the working edges are in a straight line and parallel, the general configuration of the blade being rectangular. In another embodiment, the four working edges of the blade are curved, the general configuration of the blade being a truncated oval.

These embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the hand tool of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the hand tool with a portion thereof broken away to illustrate the blades more clearly.

FIGURE 3 is a bottom view corresponding with FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a cross-section view taken along line 5-5 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-section view corresponding with the FIGURE 5 cross-section view, but showing a modification of the blade.

The hand tool 10 of this invention includes a frame 12 constructed in the shape of a channel member with the opposite flanges or sides 14 and 16 depending downwardly from the web 18. A rear hand grip 20 is secured to the rear of the frame 12 by means of conventional fastening devices 22 and a front hand grip 24 is secured to the front of the frame 12 by similar fastening means 22. The frame 12 with the rear hand grip 20 and the forward hand grip 24 extending upwardly has some resemblance to an ordinary wood plane.

Each of the sides 14 and 16 of the frame member 12 has provided therein a series of slots 28 opened to the bottom or free edge of the sides and extending upwardly toward the web 18. With reference to FIGURE 2, each slot 28 extends slightly forward in a straight line from the point where it enters the side. The several slots 28 in each side are arranged in parallel fashion along the length of the frame 12. Corresponding slots 28 in the two sides 14 and 16 are aligned directly transversely of the frame to provide pairs of slots. In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, there are thirty pairs of slots. While this number may be varied somewhat, the invention contemplates a relatively large number of such slots.

Each pair of slots in the sides 14 and 16 cooperates to receive a single blade 32. Each blade 32 is formed of a relatively thick, heat-treated, tool steel mate-rial. The respective proportions and dimensions of each blade compared with the frame 12 is illustrated in the drawings, although certain dimensions may be varied somewhat. It is important that the relative thickness of each blade be maintained. The blades 32 illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5 are generally rectangular in configuration. The top edge 34 and the bottom edge 36 are substantially parallel. Each edge 34 and 36 is precision ground to a flat surface, thereby providing two straight line working edges at each of the sides of the edges 34 and 36. These separate working edges are designated by reference numerals 38 and 39 in connection with the edge 34, and numerals 40 and 41 in connection with the edge 36.

Each blade 32 is adapted to be received within one of the pairs of slots 28, and each blade 32 has a notch 44 in the normally upwardly extending opposite edges 46, which edges remain transversely beyond the sides 14 and 16 when the blade 32 is positioned in the slots. The several blades 32 are held in position with respect to the frame 12 by a pair of bars 48 which extend lengthwise of the frame 12 adjacent the lower edge of the sides 14 and 16. The bars 48 fit snugly within notches 44 of the blades 32 and are held securely to the sides 14 and 16 by threaded connectors 50.

The relationship of the several parts when assembled is illustrated in the drawings. Each blade 32 slopes slightly toward the front of the hand tool 10 at an angle of approximately five degrees with the vertical. This angle may be varied somewhat; nevertheless, the blades should extend obliquely with respect to the longitudinal axis of the frame 12. That is, the top of the blade 32 is slightly forward of the rear of the blade. Each blade 32 extends slightly below the lower edge of the sides 14 and 16 of the frame 12. Only one of the four working edges of each blade 32 is in position for engagement with the surface to be worked. This, for example, is the edge 40 of each blade 32, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The three remaining working edges of each blade 32 remain out of working position and are not exposed to the surface to be worked.

The hand tool 10 is used to form, scrape or shape the surface to be worked in a motion similar to that employed with an ordinary wood plane. The rear hand grip 20 is grasped in one hand and the forward hand grip 24 is grasped in the other, and the device is pushed forward so that the one exposed working edge of each blade 32, such as the edge 40-, is pushed firmly over the surface. By careful manipulation, the user can scrape or remove from the surface only the desired amount of material. The web 18 of the frame 12 has a relatively large opening 52 therein so that removed material will not be trapped in the space between the top of the blades 32 and the bottom surface of the web 18 as the material slides upwardly along the front face of the blades 32.

After the tool 10 has been used for a considerable period and the exposed working edges 40 become dull, the several blades 32 can be removed and re-inserted so that a different working edge is exposed to the surface to be worked. This repositioning of the blades is done simply by removing the threaded fasteners 50, dislodging the bars 48 from the notches 44, removing the blades from the slots, and then positioning each blade 32 as desired. The blades 32 may be reversed top-to-bottom or front-toback so that any one of the four working edges may be placed in the exposed position, one at a time. After all four of the working edges have been used and become dull, the blades 32 may be removed from the frame 12 and sharpened in order to restore a sharp, straight line edge to the working edges 38-41.

The blades 32 illustrated in FIGURES 1 through 5, are generally rectangular in configuration with the opposite edges 34 and 36 being substantially parallel. In the modified form illustrated in FIGURE 6, the blade 56 has opposite sides 58 and 60 of curved configuration so that the blade 56 has the appearance of a truncated oval. The edges 58 and 60 correspond with the edges 34 and 36 of the blades 32, and similarly, are precision ground to a flat surface to present four distinct sharp working edges. Each blade 56 is provided with notches 44 in the sides thereof which notches correspond with the similarly numbered notches 44 in the blades 32 whereupon the bars 48 may be received therein to hold the blades 56 in position on the frame 12, as illustrated in FIGURE 6. These blades 56 with the curved edges 58 and 60 are used generally in the same manner as the blades 32 except that the curved working edges thereof present a different type of engagement with the surfaces to be worked, and for this reason have somewhat different utility. The two types of blades, that is the blades 32 with the straight Working edges and the blades 56 with the curved working edges, together provide considerable utility and versatility for the hand tool 10.

Each of the types of blades 32 and 56 is provided with a hole 62 therein so that several of the blades at one time may be placed on a rod (not illustrated). The blades are slid onto the rod and then snugly and squarely aligned. This allows several of the stacked blades to be sharpened at one time on a surface grinder for example. The blades are rotated on the rod so that the adjacent working edges are aligned. While the blades are held in this position, the exposed surfaces between the working edges are ground smooth as necessary to restore sharp working edges to the several stacked blades during one grinding operation.

The width of the slots 28 in the sides 14 and 16 of the frame 12 should be proportioned with respect to the width or thickness of the blades 32 (and 56) so that there is minimum clearance. That is, the blades 32 should fit snugly within the slots 32. This allows the blades 32 to be removed from the frame 12 for reversing or for sharpening, but at the same time serves to prevent chattering or vibration of the blades with respect to the frame 12. It has been found that the working edges, that is the exposed edges of the blades, may extend approximately .10 inch below the extreme bottom edge of the sides 14 and 16 of the frame 12 when inserted in the slots 28 for satisfactory results. The inside, longitudinal dimension of the notches 44 of the blades should be proportioned with respect to the width of the bars 48 so that the inside surfaces of the notches 44 snugly engage the bars 48. The slots 32 should be long enough so that the top edges of the blades do not engage the inside surface of the slots. These relative dimensions provide for the holding of each blade rigidly with respect to the frame 12 and yet prevent the bearing of the top of the blades against the inside of the slots thereby protecting the top working edges of the blade.

The hand tool of this invention has considerable versatility for use in scraping or filing various types of surfaces.

A combination scraping and filing action is created when the tool is forced firmly over the surface. The several parallel working edges enhance the efficiency considerably and the two different types of blades, that is the straightedge blade and the curved-edge blade, can be used alternatively with a single frame member. The slight angling of the blades together with the relative proportions of the blades, as described, provide four distinct working edges on each blade, and the several blades can be removed easily from the frame for switching to expose a new working edge or for sharpening as necessary.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A hand tool comprising an elongated frame having an underside and vertical and longitudinal axes, a series of blades fixedly connected to said underside of said frame to extend transversely of said longitudinal axis in a vertically inclined manner, each of said blades including at least four distinct cutting edges fixed at difierent elevations relative to said vertical axis.

2. A hand tool according to claim 1 wherein each blade includes an inclined vertical central axis and upper and lower surfaces, each of said surfaces defining a pair of said cutting edges, and perpendicularly intersecting said inclined vertical central axis of said blade.

3. A hand tool according to claim 2 wherein said surfaces are straight.

4. A hand tool according to claim 2 wherein said surfaces are curved.

5. A hand tool according to claim 2 wherein said elongated frame includes a web having a pair of laterally spaced depending portions fixed to the lateral sides of said web, said web including an elongated opening through anrintermediate portion thereof, said depending portions including a series of inclined slots, said slots being inclined to said vertical axis, each of said blades including vertically spaced projections extending from the lateral sides thereof through said slots, and a bar means fixed to each of said depending portions and positioned between said vertically spaced projections of said blades.

6. A hand tool according to claim 5 wherein each of said blades includes an aperture between said lateral sides thereof, the aperture in said series of blades being aligned in a longitudinal direction.

WILLIAM FELDMA-N, Primary Examiner.

R. V. PARKER, JR., Assistant Examiner. 

1. A HAND TOOL COMPRISING AN ELONGATED FRAME HAVING AN UNDERSIDE AND VERTICAL AND LONGITUDINAL AXES, A SERIES OF BLADES FIXEDLY CONNECTED TO SAID UNDERSIDE OF SAID FRAME TO EXTEND TRANSVERSELY OF SAID LONGITUDINAL AXIS IN A VERTICALLY INCLINED MANNER, EACH OF SAID BLADES INCLUDING AT LEAST FOUR DISTINCT CUTTING EDGES FIXED AT DIFFERENT ELEVATIONS RELATIVE TO SAID VERTICAL AXIS. 